{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Cybertraps Podcast","title":"Smartwatches for Little Kids: Yes or No? Cybertraps 137","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/4c31a8ae\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2808,"description":"  News Item: A recent New York Times article reports that an increasing number of parents are buying Apple watches for elementary school kids   Smartwatches for children are a booming sector of the tech market   Hundreds of different models with a range of features   Some smartwatches are tied to particular cellular companies, others are “unlocked”   A 2020 survey showed that 31% of American teens owned a smartwatch, compared to 21% of adults   Features and Selling Points of Smartwatches   Limited apps / less distraction than phones  Voice calls and basic texting (with cellular connectivity – typically part of family plan)  Importance of Communication with Child for Schedule Changes, Emergencies    Location tracking by parents   Geofencing for alerts   Can help delay requests for smartphone   Some watches come with apps to help with time management and to encourage physical activity   Apple introduced “Family Setup,” which gives parents the ability to supervise a range of data on the phone and limit notifications   Smartwatch Issues to Consider   Cost   Durability/Fragility of Device  Maturity / Development of Child  Plan time to educate child on using device Will child wear it every day?    Battery / Power management   Brand Capture  Safety and Etiquette  Teach children to avoid distracted walking Don’t be distracted by watch when interacting with other people Understand risks of strange messages or calls   Privacy  Is the child’s information on the watch protected? Does the watch company comply with COPPA? Does the CHILD understand that his or her location is being tracked? Transparency is important. If smartwatch has a camera, child needs to understand privacy boundaries for themselves and others    How Are Schools Reacting?   Generally positive   Fewer restrictions than smartphones   Less distraction   Recommended Brands   Verizon GizmoWatch2 (~ $100)   TickTalk4 (~ $190)   Xplora X5 Play (~ $200)   Apple SE (~ $300)   Resources   - #2022–09–01  How tech can...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/-npbjlTwEpH5Ybi_ySNRhS-EfNqaI7Ep1svTppTGhLE/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzQxNTcyLzE2ODM5/MjY0NDktYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}